Spool axminster carpet loom



March 16, 1954 B. BASSINDALE sPooL AXMINSTER CARPET LooM 3 Sheecs--Sheefv l Filed Jan. 24, 1950 March 16, 1954 l. B. BASSINDALE 2,672,166

SPOOL AXMINSTER CARPET LOOM Filed Jan. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @si tu March 15, 1954 B. BAsslNDALE SPOOL AXMINSTER CARPET LOOM 3 Sheets-Shes*v 3 Filed Jan. 24, 1950 Patented Mar. 16, 1954 SBOOL AXMIN STER CARPET LOOM Isaac Bradley Bassindal ham, England, assign e, Grasscrolt, near 01dor to Platt Brothers and Company Limited, Oldham, England Application January 24, 1950, Serial No. 140,219

Claims priority, application Great Britain January 25, 1949 7 Claims.

This invention of improvements in or relating to spool Axminster carpet looms, refers to electric stop motion means for stopping the loom, brought into operation bythe selvedge shuttle on failure or breakage of the selvedge shuttle cord and is particularly applicable to the shuttle race of a spool Axminster carpet loom of the type described in the specication of U. S. Patent No. 2,494,983, and driven by an electromotor.

According to a preferred form of the invention, there is provided a bracket attached to the shuttle race on which is pivotally mounted a lever furnished at one end extremity with an insulated screw forming one terminal in a low voltage electric circuit, the other terminal of which is formed by the shuttle which is in electrical connection with the said circuit through the metal frame of the loom.

The insulated screw terminal is adapted to project into the path of movement of the shuttle in the shuttle raceA An extension of the lever at the end remote from the insulated terminal is held in abutment against an adjustable stop in the form of a screw projecting from an extension of the bracket, a spring secured at one end to the bracket and at the other end to the lever serving to hold the lever in said position. The bracket is furnished with a further insulated terminal in electrical connection with the insulated terminal on the lever.

In the normal working of the loom, the traverse of a shuttle stops just short of the terminal, due to the restraint imposed by the tension of the Solv-edge shuttle cord, and the loom continues to work. When the selvedge shuttle cord breaks, or fails, the shuttle is freed from the restraint and under its own momentum carried further round the race, whereby the tip of the shuttle makes contact with the terminal to complete the low voltage electrical circuit and operate a relay which in turn causes the circuit to the starter of the electromotor to be opened automatically7 when the supply voltage fails and thereby stops the loom.

When it is desired to move the lever and the first-mentioned terminal clear of the shuttle race for replenishing the shuttle, the lever is turned about its pivot and the aforesaid spring acts togglewise to move the lever into a position substantially parallel with the bracket, whereupon the rearward extension of said lever makes contact with the terminal on the bracket, thus maintaining the circuit closed. With the lever in this position the loom cannot be restarted, except for inching purposes.

In a modification of the invention, instead of the bracket and lever arrangement described, there may be provided a pillar on which are mounted feeler fingers or preferably two levers, each furnished with an insulated terminal which normally extend into the path of movement of the respective shuttles in the upper and lower shuttle races. The feeler fingers or terminals are in electrical connection through a quickacting stop motion with the electric driving motor of the loom and are adapted to operate by contact of a shuttle on failure or breakage of the selvedge shuttle cord in like manner to the arrangement previously described.

Means are also provided for quickly moving the starting handle of the loom from on position to oil position when the stop-motion operates, whereby to release the driving clutch and apply a brake.

According to this arrangement, the starting handle of the loom is held in the on position by being placed in a notch in a quadrant in known manner.

Adjacent to said notch is a spring-actuated lever which, when the loom is running, is held retracted clear of the notch by means of a solenoid. When the stop-motion is actuated as previously described, the solenoid is cie-energized, whereupon the spring-actuated lever moves quickly forward and knocks the starting handle out of the aforesaid notch.

The movement of the starting handle to the off position releases the driving clutch between the electromotor and the loom and applies a brake to bring the loom to a standstill.

A signal lamp is inserted in the circuit to afford visual indication of the seat of the trouble.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which only so much of the loom is shown as is necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end view and Fig. 2 a plan of the preferred form of the invention applied to the shuttle race of a spool Axminister carpet loom, the parts being shown in operative position; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but with the parts in the inoperative position which permits of the replenishment of the shuttle; Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric circuit; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified construction of the invention; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary end view of Fig. 5 viewed in the direction of the arrow X; Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing means for quickly moving the starting handle from the on to the off position when the stop-motion operates; Fig 8 illustrates a detail later to be described.

The same reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, It indicates a bracket secured to the shuttle race I I. Pivotally mounted on a pin I2 in the underside of the bracket Iii is a lever I3 furnished at one extremity with an insulation block ifi in which is a screw terminal I5, said terminal being thus insulated from the lever I3, and forms one terminal in a low-voltage electrical circuit, the other terminal of which is formed by the shuttle which is in electrical connection with the said circuit through the metal frame of the loom.

The insulated screw terminal I5 is adapted to project into the path of movement of the shuttle in the shuttle race I I, as shown in Fig. 2.

An extension I3a of the lever I3 at the end remote from the insulated terminal I5 is normally held in abutment against an adjustable stop in the form of a screw I6 projecting from an extension I!)FV of the bracket I0. A spring I1 secured at one end to a pin I8a in the bracket I and at the opposite end to a pin Ib in the lever I3 serves to hold the lever I3 in said position.

The bracket I0 is furnished with a further screw terminal I9 in electrical connection by means of a lead 20 with a source of supply of electric current and is also in electrical connection with the terminal I on the lever I3 by means of a flexible lead 20a.

When it is desired to move the lever I3 and the insulated terminal I5 clear of the shuttle race II, e. g. to replenish the shuttle, the lever I3 is turned about the pivot pin I2 and the spring II acts toggle-wise to move the lever I3 into a position substantially parallel with the bracket I0, see Fig. 3, whereupon the rearward extension I3a of the lever I3 makes contact with the terminal I9 on the bracket Il), thus maintaining the circuit closed. With the lever I3 in this position the loom cannot be restarted, except for inching purposes.

The means for moving the starting handle quickly from on position to oi position are shown diagrammatically in Figs, 7 and 8.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, 2I indicates the starting handle shown in the on position in a notch 22 in a quadrant 23, see Fig. 8. 24 indicates a solenoid carried in suitable position on the loom; connected by a swivel 25 to the core 26 of the solenoid 2t is a bell-crank lever 2I, the opposite end of which is connected to an adjustable connecting rod 28. The connecting rod 28 is connected at its opposite end by a lever 29 to a knock-orf lever 30 pivoted on the same shaft 3l as the lever 29, the free end of the knock-off lever 30 lying adjacent to the starting handle 2| when in the on position. When the stop-motion is actuated as previously described, the solenoid 24 is de-energized, whereupon the core 26 drops and through the link 25 rocks the bell-crank lever 21 which in turn pushes the connecting rod in the direction of the arrow Y to rock the lever 29 and with it the knock-01T lever 30 which, moving quickly forward under the influence of a spring 32 in operative association with the connecting rod 28, knocks the starting handle 2I out of the notch 22.

The starting handle 2I which is spring-influenced moves rapidly to the oin position and releases the driving clutch between the electromotor and the loom and applies a brake to bring the loom to a standstill.

A signal lamp is inserted in the circuit to afford visual indication of the seat of the fault.

rI'he sequence of operations of the electric stopmotion will be described with reference to the diagram shown in Fig. 4, in which B indicates a transformer for low (safe) voltage; C indicates a trip relay with one normally closed contact indicated at C1; D indicates a relay with two normally open contacts D1' D2; E indicates a trip contact on the loom; F indicates a change-over push unit actuated by the loom starting handle, having four terminals F1, F2, F3 and F4; G indicates a reset button on the loom; H indicates a signal lamp.

The operation is as follows: f

With the loom ruiming normally, all the contacts and relays are as shown in the diagram, the lever I3 with the terminal I5 being in the position shown in Fig. 2. As previously stated, in the normal working of the loom, the traverse of the shuttle stops just short of the terminal, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines at S in Fig. 2. On breakage of yarn in the shuttle S or emptying of the shuttle, the extra movement imparted to the shuttle causes the nose of the shuttle to make contact with the terminal I5, thereby making contact at E, thus energising the relay coil D and closing contacts D1, D2, contact D1 providing an alternative path for electric current through the relay coil D, making the relay coil D self-retaining and now independent of the contact at E. The contact D2 being closed provides a circuit through the contacts F1, F2 and relay coil C, thus breaking contact C1 which causes the circuit to the motor to be opened automatically when the supply voltage fails, and so de-energizes an electro-magnet on the loom, whereby to trip the starting handle.

The starting handle, which is spring-loaded, thus returns to the ofi position and in so doing releases the clutch between the electromotor and the loom and applies a mechanical brake, at the same time also releasing the change-over push unit F, breaking contact between Fl and F2 and bridging F3 and F4.

The relay coil C is now de-energised and C1 returns to normal closed position. An alternative circuit then flows through contacts F3, F4, lamp H and contact D1, thus indicating the cause of the stoppage.

The driving motor can be switched on if required and the loom inched at the operators will, but, if the starting handle is moved to full on position before removal of the cause of stoppage, the stop motion will again act.

Having rectied the cause of the stoppage, the operator can then press the re-set button G, and the loom is again ready for running.

In the modiiication shown in Figs. 5 and 6, instead of the bracket and lever arrangement described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, there is provided a vertical pillar 33 mounted in a bracket 34 secured to the loom frame. The pillar 33 is furnished with two levers 35 each provided with an insulated terminal 36. The terminals 36 normally extend into the path of movement of the shuttles in the upper and lower shuttle race.

Tte terminals 35 are in electrical connection via leads 3l through a quick-acting stop-motion with the electric driving motor and are adapted to operate by contact of a shuttle on failure or breakage of the selvedge shuttle cord, in like manner to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to-3 The pillar 33 is normally held in working position by means of a projection 335L on the pillar handle 531 engaging in a notch 34a in the boss of the bracket Si under the influence of a spring 38. When it is required to replenish the shuttles, the pillar 33 is lifted until the projection 33a is clear of the notch :ita when it is turned to move the terminals 3b out of the shuttle race.

Although the invention has so far been described in connection with a spool Axminster carpet loom using a selvedge cord shuttle which is capable of receiving a solid wound cop of large size, that is a cop consisting of yarn tightly wound without the use of a pirn or tube it is to be understood that the invention is also applicable to spool Axminster carpet looms of usual construction operating either with one shuttle in the case of single needle looms or two shuttles of the type which carry a spool for the selvedge cord.

Further, an electric stop-motion as described may be applied to a belt-driven loom in which movement of the starting handle from the "on to the 01T position releases a clutch and applies a brake in similar manner to that before described.

I claim:

l. In a spool Axminster carpet loom of the type referred to having selvedge cord shuttles projected around shuttle races, electric stop motion means including a bracket attached to a shuttle race, a lever pivoted on said bracket, an insulated Contact terminal on said lever adjacent to one extremity of the lever, a further insulated contact terminal on said bracket, in electrical connection with said iirst mentioned terminal and also connected to a source of supply of low voltage electric current, an adjustable stop on said bracket adapted for abutment of the adjacent end of the said lever, and a spring connected at one end to said bracket and at the opposite end to said pivoted lever whereby said lever is normally held in abutment against said stop to .maintain the rst mentioned terminal in the path of movement of the selvedge cord shuttle in the shuttle race.

2. In a spool Axminster carpet loom of the type referred to having selvedge cord shuttles projected around shuttle races, electric stop motion means including a bracket attached to a shuttle race, a lever pivoted on said bracket, an insulated contact terminal on said lever adjacent to one extremity of the lever, a further insulated contact terminal on said bracket in electrical connection with said first mentioned terminal and also connected to a source of supply of low volt age electric current, an adjustable stop on said bracket adapted for abutment of the adjacent end of the said lever, and a spring connected at one end to said bracket and at the opposite end to said pivoted lever, characterised in that the said lever is turnable about its pivot and under the iniluence of the said spring acting togglewise is maintained in a position with the extremity of the lever remote from the rst-mentioned insulated terminal in contact with the second-mentioned insulated terminal whereby to maintain. the low-voltage circuit closed during the operation of replenishing the shuttle.

3. In a spool Axminster carpet loom of the type referred to including a motor, a driving clutch, a starting handle, a brake and having selvedge shuttles projected around shuttle races, electric stop motion means attached to a shuttle race, includingan insulated contact terminal, a movable support carrying said terminal, a bracket carrying said support, said bracket being provided with a stop means for the support, said terminal forming one contact terminal in a low-voltage electrical circuit, the other terminal of which is provided by the shuttle which is in electrical connection with the said circuit through the metal frame of the loom, said stop motion means being brought into action by a selverge shuttle on failure or breakage of the selvedge shuttle cord when said shuttle makes contact with said first-mentioned terminal to complete the low-voltage circuit, a relay in said circuit which on completion of the 10W-voltage circuit causes the circuit to the motor to be opened automatically when the supply voltage fails and thereby stops the loom, the starting handle being simultaneously moved from on to ofi position, whereby to release the driving clutch and apply the brake.

4. A spool Axminster carpet loom as claimed in claim 3, in which the insulated contact terminal projects into the path of movement of the shuttle which forms the other terminal in the low-voltage circuit, characterized in that in the normal working of the loom' the traverse movement of the selvedge cord shuttle stops just short of the rst-mentioned contact terminal, and in which on breakage or failure of the selvedge shuttle cord the restraint exercised on the selvedge shuttle by the said shuttle cord is removed and the momentum of the shuttle imparts an extended movement to the shuttle,

r whereby it makes contact with said first-mentioned terminal to complete the low-voltage circuit to bring the electric stop motion means into operation.

5. A spool Axminster carpet loom as claimed in claim 3, in which the stop motion means embodies a low-voltage circuit including a transformer for 10W voltage, a trip relay `with one normally closed contact, a relay with two normally open contacts, a change .over push unit actuated by the loom starting handle, and having four terminals, a reset button on the loom, and a signal lamp.

6. A spool Axminster carpet loom as claimed in claim 3, in which the stop means of the bracket comprises a notch therein, a vertical pillar rotatably and slidably mounted in the end of said bracket in proximity to the shuttle races, said movable support carrying said insulated contact terminal being fast on said pillar in register with at least one shuttle race with the insulated contact terminal normally extending into the path of movement orf the shuttle in the shuttle race, a handle or knob on said vertical pillar provided with a projection engageable in the notch in the said bracket, and a spring embracing said pillar and acting between said bracket and the movable support to maintain the pillar in working position, said pillar being adapted to be lifted and turned to move the terminal out of the path of movement of the shuttle in the respective shuttle race.

7. A spool Axminster carpet loom as claimed in claim 3, in which the starting handle is spring-influenced, a notched quadrant, a solenoid, a bell-crank lever connected" by one arm to said solenoid, a connecting rod attached at one end to the opposite arm of said bell-crank lever, a spring `attached at one end to said connecting rod and at its opposite end to the loom 7 8 rame, a pivoted knock-01T lever positioned admoves quickly to the off position to release jacent to said starting handle when said startthe driving clutch and apply the brake to bring ing handle is in the on position in the quadthe loom toastandstill. rant, and a lever between said connecting rod ISAAC BRADLEY BASSINDALE. and said knock-off lever, whereby when the stop 5 motion means is actuated the solenoid is de- References Cited in the le 0f this patent energized and through the lever system the UNITED STATES PATENTS knock-off lever is caused to knock the starting N b N D t handle out .of the notch in the quadrant, Whereum er ame a e 

